Conveyer.



R. H. FLETCHER.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED HAR.3,1910.

1,065,349, Patented June 24, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Nhiueooco R. H. FLETCHER.

GONVBYER.

APYLIOATION FILED mums, 1910.

1,065,349. Patented June 24,1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BANDELL HOWARD FLETCHER, OF LLANISHEN, WALES,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE ALVEY-FERGUSON COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A COB- PORATION OF OHIO.

CONVEYER.

Application filed March 3, 1910. Serial No. 547,098.

To all whom it may CO-ILCQTTLL Be it known that I-, RANDELL HOWARD F LETCHER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at- Llanishen, in the county of Glamorgan, Wales, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyers wherein there are-a series of runs having sections extending toward or from a common point which is provided with a switch/adjustable to connect: one of the first mentioned sections with either one of a plurality of. others of the sections.

Conveyers of this type may be variously embodied to accord with requirements,

which vary in different installations, as is well known to those skilled in the art, and

. these various embodiments are contemplated to be within the spirit of my invention and -the scope of the subjoined claims, which comprehend as a feature of the invention the employment, in a conveyer of this kind, of a switch mounted to turn in a vertical arc and capable of conducting packages thereover with either of its sides uppermost.

The invention also consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of parts and in certain novelcombinations and arrangements of elements substantially as herein described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated parts of a conveyer at the junction of the runs, showing the preferred form but it is to be understood that of said parts the particular construction illustrated is merely exemplary and that changes in the construction and in the particularly illustrated arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

' In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of the portions of the conveyer at the junction of the run referred to, showing in full and dotted lines respectively the different operative positions of the switch section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the conveyer on the line- 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow and showing the switch in a position which it is caused to assume while v Fig.4; is an end view of the being turned. run designated by thcletter A, viewed from the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a simi;v

lar view of either of the other runs. I i

The same characters of reference mate the same parts in the several views. A conveyer or conveying system constructed in accordance with the present in-g vention comprehends as one of its leading features a reversible run or section,.as.D, so mounted that it may be turned on an approximately horizontal axis, which is disposed off the center of'the run or section, and other package-supporting members as A, B and C,- relatively so disposed asto co operate with the differentoperative surfaces of the reversible section or run.

It further comprehends, as an additional leading feature thereof, a relation of the members A, B and C with respect to the reversible run or section D, such that the axis of turning movementof the last=. named section will be on a line which bisects the end of the member A and a. junction between ad acent sides of the members, B.

and C, the correlation ofthe parts-being,

such that the reversible run or section forms,

for example, a continuation of the-member A and may be turned on its said axis from a position in which it connects the member A with the member C to one in which it connects the member A with the member B. Each of the members A, B and.C is preferably a package-conveying section, but in some installations, or in parts of aQsysteni, all of said members need not be used, and. if three members areused in connection with.

the switch, all of said members needlnot be conveyers in the true sense ofitheword There are other and further, important,

features of the invention inrespect of ythe construction and relative arrangements of the parts, which will hereinafter ape,

ear. I P In the accompanyingdrawing s the pre' ferred detail embodiment o fthe inventionis illustrated. In this embodiment each of the runs or sections A, Band C areof the gravity roller type, and this is also true of the reversible section D. Only the ends of the runs or sections A, B and C are. shown, it being of course understood that said sec; tions are of any suitable length and extend from different places toward a common point, in which the reversible switch section D is located. In the illustrated embody ment, the ends of the sections B and C curve toward each other. It will be understood end s provided with a pivot-pin (or trunthat the conveyer system may be provided I at differentplaces with runs arranged at;

an angle with each other, ainl that in such 5 case there willbe h switch D at each of the junctions.

In the illustrated embodiment of the in vention: each of the runs is provided with a frame preferably having side members 10 and 11 formed of angle irons arranged longitudinally thereof. and transverse strips 12 spaced apart and connecting the angle irons. Each frame is erected upon suitable sun ports which may be composed of legs 13 connected and braced by cross braces ii. The frame is also preferably provided with other longitudinal angle irons 15 which serve as guard rails and are carried by brackets 16. The several parts of the frame are riveted or otherwise secured together at their intersections. The side-n'iembers 10 and 11 providebearings for the journals 1? of the freely-rotatable rollers 18 Which form the bed of the conveyer.

The illustrated form of the switch-section D comprises a frame having concentrically curvedl'ongitudinal sides 20 connected at one end by an integral transverse piece 21, and connected at its other end by a separately formed transverse piece 22 secured to bent ends 20 of said sides 20. The curved sides 20 provide bearings for the journals 23 offreely-r otatable rollers 24 which form the bed of the way and are of sufficient di-.

ameter to extend beyond the upper and lower edges of the-frame so that packages may be conducted thereon with eitherside of the switch section uppermost; Guard rails are provided on both sides of the switch section above and below the rollers and are preferably-supported by brackets havin' a U-shaped portion 27, riveted or othernise securedto the'framennembers and oppositely extending flanges 28 secured to the guard rails.

The ends of the runs B and G extend cal arc to connect the runs A, with the ends of either of the runs B and C, one of its ends is provided with a pivot-pin (or trunnion) 30, arranged at or contiguous to the junctionof its frame members 20 and 22 and j'ournaled'in the bracket 29, and its other nion) 5:? projecting from its member 91 approximately in line with the transverse center -of said member and journaled in a bracket 31 secured approximately at the transverse center of the run A. Stops or supports 33 and 34: for the switch-frame are secured to the extremities of the side memhers ll of the ends of the runs B and C, respectively.

The switch D when in operative position is upported at three points having a trianrelation with each other, to wit, the pivot-pins 30 and 32 journaled in the brackets 29 and 31 and the corner of the switch frame which rests upon one of the stops 33 The stability of this construction will be manifest.

It will be noted that the axis of turning movement of the switch section is such that the center of gravity is not in alinement with the. axial center of the switch section. a

A weight 35 is therefore provided to counterbalance the weight of theheavier side of the section. This weight is preferably secured to the guard rail. '25 near one end thereof.

In Fig. 1 the switch-section D is shown in full lines in position to connect the run A with the curved end of the run C, the. edge of the switch-frame at a corner thereof resting uponthc support 3% atthe extremity of the sideanember ll of the run C, with the ends 21 and 22 of the switch-frame in alinement with the contiguous ends of the runs A and C respectively, while in dotted lines is shown the position the switch caused toassume to connect the run A with the run B. To throw the switch from one operative position to the other, the section D is turned on the pivots 30 and 32 throughout a semicircular are, moving the corner of the switch frame from the support 34 at the extremity; of the side memberllof the run C untilits opposite edge contacts with the support carried bythe side member 11 of the run B. In. this pesition'thel ends 21 and 22 of theswitch are in alinement lth the ends of the runs A and C respectively.

It will be noted that one end of the switch D willalways be in alinement with the run A, while the opposite end of the switch may be swung-into alinement with either of'tlie curved ends of the runs B, C, and that the switch is-a reversible one. being operative to convey packages thereover with either of its sides uppermost.

It frequently is desirable in gravitv con-' I supply of packages to the conveyor. It will be noted that the switch D provides a con venient means for this purpose for the reason that when m a ra sed position its end 21 will be interposed in the path of a package on the run A, stopping the movement of said package and through the medium of the latter barring the movement of following packages from the run A. If either of the other runs or sections of the conveyer lead to a shipping point, or to an elevator, or to a lowerer, for example, and it is not convenient to have the packages run thereto, they may be temporarily cut out by movement of the switch to the described position.

From the foregoing the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be understood and it will be apparent that.

the invention is not restricted to'the detailed embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but may be widely varied 1n respectof said details and variously embodied in conveyors of differenttypes, gravity and otherwise.

\Vhile it is considered unnecessary to explain herein the different embodiments to which the invention lends itself, yet in a general way, it may be stated that in conveying systems as frequently embodied, runs of gravity or other nature are employed in connection with elevators, or with spiral lowerers, for conveying the packages from one floor or level to another, and systems of this kind, as well as those wherein the packages are conveyed only on a level, may in clude the herein described switch means.

Having now described the invention what I believe to be new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A package conveyer, comprising a reversible run or section which is mounted so that it may be turned onan approximately horizontal axis disposed off the center of the run or section, said run or section having opposite conveying surfaces, and package-supporting members relatively arranged to be joined by the respective conveying surfaces of the reversible section or run, the package-supporting members comprising package-feedingmeans.

2. A package-conveyer comprising pack-,

age-supporting members extending toward a common point, and a reversible run or section which, is mounted to turn from an op- 1 erative relation with one of said members into operative relation with the other, on an approximately horizontal axis disposed off 0 the line of the transverse center of the revers blei'unor section and in a line which bisects the spacebetween adjacent sides of said members at the ends of the latter-contiguous tothe reversible run or section.

3. A package-conveyer comprising a serisof package-supporting members, two of which have their sides which confront each other arranged contiguous to a place which is opposite the transverse center of thethird member,, said third member being spaced said reversible section or run from the ends of the other two members, and a reversible section or run mounted to turn on an approximately horizontal axis in said space to operatively connect either of the first two members with the third member, having its axis in line with the transverse center of the third member and the space separating the sides of the first two members from each other.

4. A package conveyer comprising a pair of members having ends which are arranged side by side, a third member spaced from: said pair of members and having the transverse center of its ends arranged in a line which bisects the space separating contiguous sides of the first two members from each other, and a fourth member mounted to turn on an approximately horizontal axis and adapted to convey packages between the third member and eitherof the first two members, said fourth member being pivoted at one end in line with the transverse center of the third member and having its other end pivoted at a place which is off of its transverse center and bisects the space betweenadjacent sides of the first two members.

A package conveyer comprising two package conveying sections each comprising a bed or way, the ends of said sections being spaced apart and disposed in such relative positions that their transverse centers will be out of line with each other. and a switch section which is mounted to turn on an approximately horizontal axis between said ends and has a bed or way which forms a continuation of the beds or ways of the latter when it is in one position of its adjustment, the axis of turning movement of the switch section being off the line of the transverse center of its bed or way and in a line which bisects the end of the bed or way of one member and is adjacent to an edge of the bed or Way of the other member.

6. A conveyer comprising aseries of runs, the ends of two of which have contiguous sides, and the other of which runs is spaced from said ends, combined with a reversible conveying section which is arranged in said space and adapted to connect the third run with the ends of either of the two runs first mentioned, said reversible run being pivotally mounted at a plurality of places to turn on an approximately horizontal axis which is off the line of the transverse center of said section, one of said pivots being disposed in proximity to the transverse center of the end of the third runiand the other of the pivots being in proximity to the junction of adjacent sides of the other runs,

7. A conveyer comprising a run, a pluto form a junction disposed approximately in line'with the transverse center of the end oi the first-mentioned run, said run and ends being spaced apart, and a reversible section adapted to connect "the first-montioned run with either of said curved ends. said section having one of its ends in line with the end of the first-mentioned run, and the junction of its other end and a side arranged contiguous to said junction of the curved ends, and being mounted to turn approximately perpendicularly to the plane of the other runs to'aline its last-mentioned end with either of said curved ends, upon fulcra disposed in proximity to said junction and thetran'sverse center of the first mentioned run, respectively.

8. A-convey-er having'scparated members, one of which is provided with feeding means, and a pivotally mounted section arranged in the space between the ends of said members and forming a combined switch and stop,

the said section having a surface adapted to convey packages from one of said members to the other and having its axis so disposed that; its end which is arranged adjacent to the member having feeding means will pro jectabove the latter so as to bar the progress of a package therefrom when said section is turned from its conveying position.

9. A conveyor having separated members provided with means for feeding packages thereon, a' separate section arranged in the space between the ends of said members and having means for conveying packages from one of said members to the other, said section being. pivotally mounted at its opposite ends to turn upon an. approximately horizontal axis, the pivot at one end of the sec tion-being arranged between the sides of the section, and approximately in line with the transverse center of the adjacent member, and also so disposed with relationto the conveying surface of said section and the conveying surface of the adjacent member that the end of the section will project above the surface of the latter member and bar the progress of a package therefrom when the section is turned from its conveying position.

10. A packageconveying means having "a plurality of runs each comprising a frame otally in a vertical plane into operative relation from one to the other and having its rollers so disposed as to operate when either of its sides is uppermost.

12. A conveyer comprising a plurality of package conveying members havin con- :verging curved sections, sides of which approximatelymeet at the extremities thereof, and a third member having a series of package-feeding rollers forming its bed, said third member being fulcrumed at its oppcsite ends, one of its fulcrums being in proximity to the junction of said sides of the curved section. 1

13. A conveyer comprising a plurality of runs, provided with curved ends having sides which approximately meet at the extremities thereof, a separate run which is spaced from said ends and is arranged with the transverse center of its end approximately in line with the junction of said sides, and a reversible switch having a series of packagefeeding rollers forming its bed,

said rollers so disposed as to operate when either side of the switch is uppermost, said switch being fulcrumed at opposite ends in proximity with said junction and the transverse center of the second-mentioned run, respectively.

14. A conveyer having a plurality of members extendingtoward a common point, and a reversible switch having a pivotal support off its center and movable into open ative relation with either of said'members, and a balance weight for said switch.

15. A convever having a plurality of 'niembers extending toward a common point and provided with sides which approximately meet at the extremities thereof a switch adaptable to either of said ends, said switch pivo-tally mounted off the line of its longitudinal center, in proximity to the junction of said sides and provided with a balance weight, and. elements cooperating with the pivot for supporting the switch 'in its adjusted positions.

16. A conveyer having a plurality of members extending toward a common point and provided with sides which approximately meet at the extremities thereof, a switch adaptable to either of said sides, said switch pivotally mounted at a corner thereof in proximity to the junction of said sides and provided with a balance weight, and elements at the extremities of the other sides of said members for supporting the movable corner of the pivoted ends of the switch.

' 17. A conveyer having a plurality of members extending toward a common point and provided with sides which approximately meet at the extremities thereof, another member spaced from the same and disposed with the transverse center of its end in approximate alinement with the junction of said sides, and a reversible Loo 53m switch mounted in said space and so related to said members as to be adapted to connecteither of those first-mentioned with the other one, one end of said switch being pivoted at one corner in proximity with the junction between said sides and the other end thereof being pivoted in proximity to its transverse center and the transverse center of the other run, said switch having a balance weight, and the other sides of the first-mentioned runs having supporting elements for the movable corner of the eccentrieally pivoted end of the switch.

18. A conveyer having a plurality of runs provided with contiguous ends, and a reversible switch so disposed with relation to said ends as to swing in a vertical plane from operative relation with one into operative relation with the other, said switch having package feeding rollers in its bed and guard rails arranged above and below the plane of said rollers.

19. A conveyer having a plurality of runs provided with contiguous ends, a reversible switch so disposed with relation to said ends as to swing in a vertical plane from operative relation with one into operative relation With the other, said switch having package feeding rollers in its bed and guard rails arranged above and below the plane of said rollers, combined with a third run, so disposed with relation to the contiguous ends of the switch as to be operatively related thereto when the switch is in either of its package-feeding positions.

20. In a conveyer, runs having curved ends, sin. of which are relatively disposed to form a function, a reversible curved switch pivotally mounted in such relation to said junction to swing in a vertical plane from operative relation with one of said runs into operative relation with the other of the same, said switch having package feeding rollers in its bed and guard rails arranged above and below the plane of said rollers.

21. In a conveyer a pair of runs having curved ends arranged in proximity to each other, a third run the end of which confronts the curved ends of the other runs and is spaced therefrom, and a reversible curved switch pivotally mounted in said space, with one of its ends in such relation with said curved ends that it will turn in a vertical plane from feeding relation with one of said ends into feeding relation with the other of the same, and at its other end pivotally mounted in such relation with the contiguous end of the third run as to be in feeding relation therewith when in either of its feeding positions, said switch having package feeding rollers in its bed and guard rails arranged above and below the plane of said rollers.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RANDELL HOWARD FLETCHER.

Witnesses ALBERT S. PHILLIPS, SELUEY Broos. 

